Clip for writing instruments



Feb. 24, 1931. w. R. CUTHBERT 1,794,154

CLIP FOR WRITING INSTRUMENTS Filed July 22. 1929 Patented Feb. 24, 1931 FATE Fries WILLIAM R. GUTHBERT, F FORT MADISON, IOWA, ASSIGNOR T0 V7. A. SHEAFFER PEN (30., OF FORT BIADISON, ZOW'A, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE 0L1? FOR VTRITING INSTRUMENTS Application fi1eclJu1y'2 2, 1929. Serial No. 379,958.

'5} pens for retaining the pencils or fountain pens in a pocket.

More particularly, this invention relates to a pocket clip for pencils or fountain pens comprising a body portion having one end 10, ball-shaped and a pair of ears at the other end and on opposite sides of the body portion for gripping the material between two slotted portions ofthe writing instrument,

the body portionbeing of a resilient materialv V and bent so as to urge the balLshape'd end into engagement with the body portion of the barrel of the pencil or'cap of the fountain pen.

The present invention obviates the mess sity of securing the clipto the casing with the use of solder, screws,'rivets or the like and presents a smooth and unobstructed inner surface in the casing whereby the inner mechanisms, such as the lead propelling mechanism of the mechanical pencil or therubber insert for sealing the ink feeding mechanism of the pen, encounter no interference within the casing.

Pencils and fountain pens of present construction are generally formed of compositions such as are known to the trade as radite, bakelite and the like. The trend is toward thin models of writing instruments and in order that the construction'be durable at the same time, either the composition should be of comparatively great thickness or should be reenforced if comparatively thin. In the accompanying drawings both forms are shown, that .is, anordinary writing instrument formed entirely of composition and a slender tapered model writing instrument formed of a combination composition shell and reenforcing shell.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a. clip construction for a slender model writing instrument, the casing of which latter is formed of a shell of a composition material superposed on a shell of metal whereby the casing of itself is suitably reenforced tosecure the clip against displacement.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clip construction whicliis durable, is m easily assembled and comparatively lHQXPQllsive to manufacture.

A further object of this invention is to provide a clip construction for an ordinary type writing instrument, the casing of which is formed entirely of a composition material -where1n. a separate reenforcing member is provided in connectionwith the material of the casing tosecure the clip against displacement.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter he more particularly pointed out and for a better understanding of the nature, scope and characteristics of this inventioi: reference may now be had to the accompanying drawings and the following description, in which latter:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a lead pencil having a composition casing and an inner metallic shell with the clip secured thereto in accordance with the teaching of this invention Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 22 of Flgure 1;

Fig, 3 is a top plan view of a portion of the pencil before the clip is inserted showing the Fig. 5 is a view similar to 4; showing the clip in an assembled relation therewith; Flg. 6 1s a detailed perspective View of the cllp showing the ears thereon for engaging the shells of the casing in an initial position prior to assembly therewith; and

Fig. 7 1s a central sectional View of a modified form of clip assembly.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1 to 6 inclusive there- I of, a lead pencil of the mechanical type is shown comprising an inner ductile metallic shell 10 having an outer composition shell 11 superposed thereon to form the pencil casing. The casing is adapted to receive therein a rotatable pencil lead moving mechanism of any of the well-known types, the casing being tapered or conically shaped at both of its ends and having the usual axial bore therethrough for the reciprocal movement therein of a pencil lead 12. The casing is of two parts, the upper portion or the end opposite to that of the writing point comprising the usual rotatable operating member for the lead moving mechanism. In order to provide a positive grip for rotating the lead-moving mechanism, the upper part of the casing may be provided with a'third concentric shell 100 having longitudinally extending flutes. The flutes may engage corresponding recesses provided in the lead moving mechanism. I

The casing, consisting of the outer and inner shell members 10 and 11, is provided with two preferably elongated and substantially parallel openings 13 and 14: on the operating member of the two-part casing adjacent the closed tapering end thereof. These openings or slots may be stamped'or otherwise formed from the materials of the casing, they preferably being provided therein by means of a rotary cutter. The clip comprises a ing one end thereof formed into a ball-shape 16. The material of the body portion is preferably formed of resilient material and of arcuate shape in order to grip the material of the pocket tightly between the ball 16 and the body portion of the pencil or the cap of the fountain pen. Ears 17 and 18 are formed from the material of the body portion on opposite sides and extending longitudinally thereof and are bent substantially at right angles thereto in the initial condition thereof. The cars 17 and 18 are adapted to be inserted through'the openings 13 and 14, respectively, in the'casing and are bent toward each other to contact with and to cover the underside of the material between the slots with their projecting edges substantially meeting. In clamping the ears 17 and 18 over the material of the casing the material of the metal shell 10 between the slots is urged toward the body portion 15 of the clip toform a raised longitudinally extending strip and the material of the composition shell'll is compressed therebetween in order that the inner surface of the casing be preserved in a smooth, unobstructed state, the bottom surfaces of the projecting edges of the ears 1'? and 18 extending flush with the periphery of the circular bore of the shell 10.

It will be noted that in order to provide a neat appearing pencil or other writing instrument, the slots or openings 13 and 1% must be comparatively close together in order that a clip of a medium size or of the proper proportion to the length and width of the pencil may be employed. By reason of the openings 13 and 14 being thus close togetl er the material of the composition between the openings in and of itself would hardly suffice body portion 15 hav-' to retain the clip thereon, even though the writing instrument be not misused. Therefore, the inner shell 10 being of metal acts as a reenforcement for the composition shell generally and provides an efiicient gripping means for retaining the clip against displacement specifically.

In providing the present construction there are but two operations necessary, one in which the apertures 13, and 14 are formed either by means of a rotary cutting instrument or a punch, and the second in which the ears are bent toward each other and toward the body portion 15 of the clip to compress the material of the composition shell 11 and to raise the material between the apertures of the metal shell 10." i

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 7 the construction shown is that of acap formed of composition, the thickness of the' composition being substantially greater than the thickness of the composition material in the previously described embodiment for the reason that there is no reenforcing metallic shell in the former. However, inasmuch as 1 there is no metallic shell to provide such a reenforcement, a strip of metallic material 19, of substantial length to extend longitu- Qdinally beyond the ears 17' and 18 on each side thereof, is disposed between the ears 2' as the latter are inserted through the openings 13 and 14, whereafter the ears are bent inwardly toward each other in the manner previously described with reference to the prior embodiment whereby the composition 1 material iscompressed between the body portion 15 of the clip and the ears 17 and 18 thereof and the reenforcing strip 19'is raised to seat itself within the composition material allowing suflicient room for the ears to clear the inner bore of the cap. Therefore, the sealing member 20 for the ink feeding mechanism may be inserted into the cap without interference. It is to be noted that should the ears 17 and-18 and/or the reenforcing strip 19 not clear the inner bore of the cap but extend thereinto, the sealing 'member 20 would of necessity be cut away in a manner to permit clearance of this obstruction. This, of course, would be greatly objectionable.

As a result of this invention a means has been provided for securing clips to casings of various types for writing instruments, the casings being of a composition material wherein that material is suitably reenforcecl to provide a substantial support for the clip. The construction also provides for a minimum number of operations in assembling the construction, which, of course, reduces the cost of construction and naturally provides a more efficient and durable construction, there being less chance of crystallization of the material. The clip is secured to the writing instrument without the use of solder,

screws, rivets or the like and thus preserves a smooth and unobstrurted inner surface of the casing whereby the sealing member for fountain pens or the lead propelling, repelling or expelling mechanism avoids interference in the casing.

While but two forms of this invention are herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various modifications may be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and, therefore, the same .is to be limited only by the scope of the prior art and the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A clip construction for writing instruments having a casing formed of a composi tion shell superposed on a metallic shell, comprising an elongated clip having ears formed 1 thereon extending through spaced slots in said shells, said ears being formed to extend over the underside of the material between said slots outside of the contour of the inner bore of said casing.

2. A clip construction for writing instruments having a casing including a shell formed of composition material having spaced slots therethrough, comprising an elongated clip having ears formed thereon and passing through said slots, a reenforcing strip between said ears for engaging the inner wall of said composition shell, said ears being formed to extend over the underside of said strip outside of the contour of the inner bore of said casing.

3. A clip construction for writing instruments having a casing formed of a composition shell superposed on a metallic shell, comprising an elongated clip having ears formed on opposite sides and extending longitudinally thereof for passing through spaced slots in said shells, said ears being formed to extend over the underside of the material between said slots, the material of said com position shell between said slots being compressed and the material of said metallic shell between said slots forming a raised strip to allow clearance between the lower surface of said ears and the inner bore of said casing.

4. A clip construction for writing instruments having a casing including a shell formed of a composition material, comprising an elongated clip having ears formed on opposite sides and extending longitudinally thereof for passing through spaced slots in said casing, a reenforcing strip between said ears for engaging the inner wall of said composition shell, said ears being formed to extend over the underside of said strip, the composi tion material between said slots being compressed and said strip being raised to allow clearance between the lower surface of said ears and the inner bore of said casing.

55. A clip construction for writing instruments having a casing including a shell formed of a composition material, comprising an elongated clip having ears formed on opposite sides and extending longitudinally thereof for passing through spaced slots in said casing, a metal stripbetween said ears for engaging the inner wall of said composition shell, said ears being formed to extend over the underside ofsaid strip, the composi- 

